New Delhi, Jun 30 (IANS) In a bid to boost its coastal security, India is importing 80 fast interceptor boats at a cost of 300 crore for its navy to plug gaps in patrol and interception operations that were identified following the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

The boats will be used by the newly-raised 1,000-man Sagar Prahari Bal, a senior navy officer said here Thursday.

The government has shortlisted Sri Lankan shipyard Solas Marine for placing the order for the 80 boats. A deal in this regard will be signed soon, the officer said.

The navy had last year ordered 15 boats from French firm Chantiere Navale Couach for

65 crore, of which four boats were inducted into the navy at Mumabi earlier this week, the officer said.

The 80 boats will come in batches of 15 and deliveries will be completed by 2012. The induction of the boats will take place over 36 months from the day the contract is signed, the officer added.

The fast interceptor boats have a maximum speed of 50 nautical miles per hour and would be used by the navy to intercept suspicious boats along the coast for inspection and verification. They will also be used for preventing crimes such as poaching and smuggling, apart from in counter-terror operations.

India is also getting 300 fast attack craft for its navy, coast guard and marine police to strengthen their capabilities, a decision taken in the backdrop of the 26/11 terror attack.

The Navy has inducted the first lot of three Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC), adding muscle to its nascent Sagar Prahari Bal (sea protection force) tasked to protect naval assets and bases on both the East and West coasts and island territories of the country.

Post-26/11, the government designated the Navy as the authority responsible for overall maritime security in the country and announced that FIC would be procured for seafront patrolling by the 1000-strong Sagar Prahari Bal.

As part of the plan, orders for 15 FIC were placed with a French company at a cost of 60 crore. The first lot was deployed in Mumbai this week, a Navy spokesman said.

Solas Marine, Sri Lanka is all set to be given the orders for another 80 FIC, worth 300 crore, after a global tender. The Cost Negotiation Committee of the Navy has completed its task and the formal contract is to be signed.

The French firm is expected to fulfil the order by next year. After formal orders, it will take up to 36 months for the Sri Lankan firm to deliver the boats, the spokesman said.

These boats are normally between 80 and 100 metres in length, can travel at a high speed of 40 to 50 knots with a crew of up to 7 personnel and can carry a light machine gun.